Getting married brings with it lots of changes for some couples — for the traditional, maybe that's a new last name, maybe integrating families or even living together for the first time. Many people, though, say that apart from feeling a huge rush of love and passion, not that much really changes. But according to David Ludden, Ph.D., psychologists feel otherwise. Writing for Psychology Today, he explained that personality can change once people get married. Apparently, this is because it's such a major life event, people end up adapting to "partnered life."Research from psychologist Justin Lavner, at the University of Georgia, was able to detect trends in the personality changes of married couples. There were five huge, common changes noticed among the heterosexual couples studied (this is after 18 months of marriage, and most of the couples were in their 20s).OpennessBoth partners were found to be less open as time went on. "Perhaps this change reflects their acceptance of the routines of marriage," Ludden commented. ConscientiousnessMale-identifying partners became more conscientious, whereas female-identifying partners' conscientiousness stayed the same. "The increase in conscientiousness for men probably reflects their learning the importance of being dependable and responsible in marriage," Ludden suggested. ExtroversionBecoming more introverted was a trend across the board, with Ludden suggesting this was because couples become less social ("restrict their social circle") once they're married.AgreeablenessWhile female-identifying partners were more agreeable to begin with, over 18 months of marriage, researchers noted that both partners became less so. This, they believe, is because female-identifying partners learned to become more assertive.Neuroticism The male-identifying participants became a little bit more emotionally stable, but it was their partners who became much less neurotic and more stable. "It’s easy to speculate that the commitment of marriage had a positive effect on the wives’ emotional stability," Ludden said.

Getting married brings with it lots of changes for some couples — for the traditional, maybe that's a new last name, maybe integrating families or even living together for the first time. Many people, though, say that apart from feeling a huge rush of love and passion, not that much really changes.

But according to David Ludden, Ph.D., psychologists feel otherwise. Writing for Psychology Today, he explained that personality can change once people get married. Apparently, this is because it's such a major life event, people end up adapting to "partnered life."

Research from psychologist Justin Lavner, at the University of Georgia, was able to detect trends in the personality changes of married couples. There were five huge, common changes noticed among the heterosexual couples studied (this is after 18 months of marriage, and most of the couples were in their 20s).

Openness

Both partners were found to be less open as time went on. "Perhaps this change reflects their acceptance of the routines of marriage," Ludden commented.

Conscientiousness

Male-identifying partners became more conscientious, whereas female-identifying partners' conscientiousness stayed the same. "The increase in conscientiousness for men probably reflects their learning the importance of being dependable and responsible in marriage," Ludden suggested.

Extroversion

Becoming more introverted was a trend across the board, with Ludden suggesting this was because couples become less social ("restrict their social circle") once they're married.

Agreeableness

While female-identifying partners were more agreeable to begin with, over 18 months of marriage, researchers noted that both partners became less so. This, they believe, is because female-identifying partners learned to become more assertive.

Neuroticism

The male-identifying participants became a little bit more emotionally stable, but it was their partners who became much less neurotic and more stable. "It’s easy to speculate that the commitment of marriage had a positive effect on the wives’ emotional stability," Ludden said.